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Motherwell2 - 0Celtic

Two goals from John Sutton ended Celtic's 17-match unbeaten run as Motherwell secured a deserved win over the Scottish Premier League leaders.

Sutton pounced on a mistake from Charlie Mulgrew to slide the home side into the lead after two minutes.

Darren Randolph saved well from Celtic captain Scott Brown before the break.

Shaun Hutchinson's header struck the bar before Emilio Izaguirre was ruled to have tripped Keith Lasley and Sutton scored from the 49th-minute penalty.

With Celtic suffering their first defeat since 10 November, title rivals Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the table to five points with a 4-0 win over St Johnstone.

Ending a run of five straight defeats by the visitors - and 11 games without a win over the Glasgow side - moves Motherwell five points clear of sixth-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The home side had been forced to reorganise at the back, with Stevie Hammell coming in for the suspended Stephen Craigan.

Sutton struck for Motherwell after only two minutes at Fir Park

Well manager Stuart McCall shored up his midfield by introducing Ross Forbes, with striker Francis Jeffers dropped to the bench.

Celtic's changes were in midfield and attack, with Ki Sung-Yueng replacing the suspended Beram Kayal and Anthony Stokes preferred to Georgios Samaras up front.

However, it was a nightmare start by Mulgrew in defence that led to Motherwell's opener after only two minutes.

First, Chris Humphrey pounced on the central defender's fresh-air attempt at a clearance, but Daniel Majstorovic managed to block the winger's shot as he bore down on goal.

Mulgrew then hesitated while hoping that goalkeeper Fraser Forster would come out to clear a long ball over the defender's head.

Instead, Sutton poked the ball past Foster before driving it into the unguarded net.

Celtic pressed forward and Mark Wilson headed powerfully over, but it was Motherwell who were next to put the ball in the net after 18 minutes.

Sutton latched on to Gunning's long ball, rounded Forster and rolled it into the net only to be ruled offside.

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Motherwell went close again when a Jamie Murphy cross evaded the head of Sutton and the unmarked Humphrey rushed his first-time shot at the back post, slicing well wide.

Celtic, though, now had the territorial advantage and came close to equalising during a spell of intense pressure.

Stokes broke clear inside the box, but his low shot was blocked by the foot of goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who then sent a clever 18-yard curling drive from Scott Brown round the post with his outstretched hand.

Motherwell remained dangerous on the break and Murphy sent Humphrey sprinting clear from the halfway line only to be pulled back a hasty referee's whistle for Majstorovic's foul on Lasley at the other end.

Celtic's increasing pressure almost paid off in the dying seconds of the first half, but Shaun Hutchinson cleared a Stokes shot from in front of his own goal.

However, Motherwell made another whirlwind start after the break, with a Hutchinson header following a Forbes corner striking the underside of the crossbar before being cleared.

The home side's second eventually came from the penalty spot, when Emilio Izaguirre clipped the heels of Lasley and Sutton sent Forster the wrong way with his spot kick into the roof of the net.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon immediately hauled off Stokes and the injured Mark Wilson and brought on Samaras and Efraim Juarez.

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The change almost coincided with a goal for the visitors, but Randolph did superbly to get a strong hand to Kris Commons' powerful 25-yard free-kick that curled towards the bottom corner.

Celtic continued to press and Commons had another curling effort well saved after Sutton and Humphrey both had chances on the break.

However, the two-goal advantage was retained as Motherwell completed their first win at Fir Park over the Glasgow side since May 2005.

Live text and stats

Sunday, 27 February 2011

Scottish Premier

Home Team

Score

Away Team

Time

Motherwell

2-0

Celtic

FT

(HT 1-0)

Sutton 2

Sutton (pen) 49

Motherwell

01 Randolph

03 Hammell

19 Hutchinson

22 Gunning yellow card

06 Hateley

07 Humphrey yellow card

08 Jennings yellow card

14 Lasley yellow card

09 Murphy

11 Sutton

18 Forbes yellow card (Pollock 75)

Substitutes

34 Bradley,

02 Saunders,

20 Page,

27 Meechan,

32 Pollock,

23 Casagolda,

24 Jeffers

Celtic

26 Forster yellow card

03 Izaguirre

05 Majstorovic yellow card

12 Wilson (Samaras 52)

21 Mulgrew

08 Brown

16 Ledley

18 Ki Sung-Yeung (Forrest 66)

10 Stokes (Juarez 52)

15 Commons

88 Hooper

Substitutes

24 Zaluska,

04 Juarez,

22 Loovens,

25 Rogne,

09 Samaras,

27 Murphy,

49 Forrest

Ref: NorrisAtt: 9,716

MOTHERWELL

CELTIC

Possession

Motherwell44%

Celtic56%

Attempts on target

Motherwell6

Celtic7

Attempts off target

Motherwell3

Celtic6

Corners

Motherwell4

Celtic5

Fouls

Motherwell22

Celtic21

Final Result

90:00+4:09 The referee signals the end of the game.

Full Time

90:00+3:27 Foul by Daniel Majstorovic (Celtic) on John Sutton (Motherwell). Free kick taken right-footed by Steve Jennings (Motherwell)
from left channel, resulting in open play.

59:36 Shot by Chris Humphrey (Motherwell) drilled right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by Charlie Mulgrew
(Celtic). Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Ross Forbes (Motherwell) to far post, foul by Shaun Hutchinson
(Motherwell) on Joe Ledley (Celtic). Free kick taken right-footed by Fraser Forster (Celtic) from own half, resulting in open
play.

58:24 Foul by Ross Forbes (Motherwell) on Scott Brown (Celtic). Free kick taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) from right
channel, resulting in open play.

44:53 Shot by Anthony Stokes (Celtic) drilled right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), clearance by Tom Hateley
(Motherwell). Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Kris Commons (Celtic) to near post, clearance by Tom
Hateley (Motherwell).

23:49 Cross by Jamie Murphy (Motherwell), weak shot by Chris Humphrey (Motherwell) right-footed from right side of penalty area
(12 yards), missed right. Goal kick taken long by Fraser Forster (Celtic).

12:28 Foul by Sung-Yeung Ki (Celtic) on Ross Forbes (Motherwell). Free kick taken left-footed by Stevie Hammell (Motherwell) from
left wing, resulting in open play.

11:50 Foul by John Sutton (Motherwell) on Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic). Free kick taken left-footed by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) from
own half, resulting in open play.

11:09 Goal kick taken long by Darren Randolph (Motherwell).

10:34 Attacking throw-in by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).

9:57 Defending throw-in by Tom Hateley (Motherwell).

8:48 Defending throw-in by Stevie Hammell (Motherwell).

8:30 Defending throw-in by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).

8:08 Defending throw-in by Tom Hateley (Motherwell).

7:09 Foul by Keith Lasley (Motherwell) on Kris Commons (Celtic). Free kick taken left-footed by Kris Commons (Celtic) from left
channel, header by Mark Wilson (Celtic) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards), over the bar. Goal kick taken long by Darren
Randolph (Motherwell).

6:55 Attacking throw-in by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).

6:13 Foul by Steve Jennings (Motherwell) on Scott Brown (Celtic). Free kick taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki (Celtic) from left
channel, resulting in open play.

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